Austin
Austin: Research Presentation at the Science and Social Science Symposium
One of the main reasons I selected Linfield was because of Undergraduate Research opportunities. I am fortunate enough to be involved in the Biology department researching microRNA functionality, with Dr. Catherine Reinke, a Genetecist and Molecular Cell Biologist. All semester everyone in the lab has been working with different mutations and lines of Drosophila (fruit flies) and we are about to do our big experiment portion of the project. On Friday, Linfield hosted the 41st Annual Science and Social Science Symposium in the library where most students involved with student-faculty undergraduate collaborative research presented their work through poster presentations. The two other people I have been working most closely with all semester and I, as well as my faculty advisor, worked day and night for the last couple of weeks to create our poster and perfect our presentation. It was a lot of work, but extremely rewarding and exciting. A couple of us in the lab are fortunate enough to have to opportunity to stay over the summer and continue the project as full time research assistants. Because we are a college, and not a university, all of the funding and focus is turned to the undergrads, which is a really cool feeling. Research is fascinating and applies not only in the sciences, but also in other social science departments as well. If you’re interested in doing research (even starting as a freshman), check out Linfield!
Until next time,
-Austin
Austin: Action-Packed Weekend!
I was looking forward to this weekend for a long time, and I can’t believe it’s already done! Friday the entire campus celebrated Wildstock, a Linfield tradition. Every year, near the end of the semester, the school puts on an outdoor concert packed with local food vendors and games. This year, the bands The Ready Set and Outasight performed, and the field was full of free food from Thai Country, Ribslayer, El Primo, and there was inflatable laser tag, as well as an inflatable slide. The concert was great, and it was lots of fun to celebrate the ending of a solid semester with friends.
The next morning came early when two busses of Linfield students traveled to the Coliseum convention center in downtown Portland to hear His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama speak. What an incredible experience it was to be in a theater with 11,000 people gathered around to hear him, as well as three prominent political figures speak at an Environmental Summit. The Dalai Lama is hilarious; he was cracking jokes left and right, and had no problem communicating his ideas and wisdom through his translator. It was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m grateful that Linfield subsidized the tickets so I was able to enjoy the program for only $10! A few of my friends and I hung out at the Portland Saturday Market and enjoyed tasty Thai food (my favorite) and explored the market. After his speech, the Red Hot Chili Peppers put on a great show. Once we returned back to campus, I attended the Theater’s production of Spring Awakening. The musical was absolutely moving, and filled with incredible talent. It was fun to see some of my friends acting and showing their true passion and love for Theater.
Sunday rolled around and was filled with plenty of homework and stress about the upcoming finals week. I have quite a few papers, finals, and presentations this week, but as the semester is drawing to an end, I’m still quick to enjoy the last few days of freshman year with friends. I can’t believe it’s almost over!
Until next time,
-Austin
Austin: Sun!
The last two weeks have been filled with spring-time sun, beautiful flowers, lots of sneezing, and outdoor adventures: with the 81 degree weather, it looks like summer has come early! I’m used to a hot summer, being from Boise, but not until July. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the sun and summer-like weather the last few weeks has brought. Everyone is “doing homework” outside, playing volleyball, soccer, and basking in the sun.
Along with the beautiful weather, come exciting new adventures. My friends and I went to Nesquin beach, (about an hour and 15 mins. away) last weekend and took in the sun. I was able to wear shorts and flip flops! On the Oregon coast, this is a big deal, especially given the time of year. It was absolutely beautiful and a fun Saturday day-trip to get off of campus and explore a new beach.
In Biology lab this past week, we had a bird foraging experiment that we did outside in the woods just off of campus. Within a five minute walk from the lab we were able to be in a thick wooded area and able to observe local birds and their feeding habits: it was awesome! Part of the reason I selected Linfield was because of the location, and I’m happy I’m here!
This last Saturday night was Linfield’s 41st annual Luau put on by the Hawaiian club. We have a large Hawaiian student and faculty population here on campus, and this is their main event of the year. An authentic Hawaiian restaurant catered the event (awesome food) and the main show followed. I was so amazed by the talent of all the students. There were around 10 dances, all with impeccable choreography and authentic music. It was a great experience, and I’m glad I went. It really made me appreciate the rich Hawaiian and Polynesian culture we have right here on campus.
So there ya have it, lots of fun… and lots of work too. Finals are right around the corner and the stress has already set in. The weather is perfect, but also a big temptation to give up on homework. We’re almost there!
Until next time,
-Austin
Austin: It’s all about the FOOD!
It’s true, when you go off to college, your culinary expectations and norms change pretty drastically. There have been many nights of ramen and instant soup, followed by copious amounts of coffee the next morning. However, every once in a while, you decide to splurge and go out to eat with friends. Yes, McMinnville is small, yet there is actually a great selection of restaurants. Third Street is filled with exciting eateries, ranging from Chinese, Italian, American -Brewery, and Thai. There are also great places to eat in Portland, but it’s not imparative to leave MAC.
Thai Country is incredible, and a favorite among Linfield students. The owners are genuine and offer great service and tasty dishes. Most dishes are under $10 too, so that is always a plus!
David’s Chinese is a relatively authentic Cantonese restaurant where the wait staff offers free hot tea and a cup of soup. Free is always a good thing.
Los Molcajetes is an awesome Mexican restaurant with a great atmosphere and friendly staff who bring tons of free chips and salsa… once again, a great thing.
Golden Valley Brewery is a local pub-like American restaurant with excellent French fries and burgers.
Third-Street Pizza Company is a local pizza joint with a theater inside- pretty awesome place.
Wildwood café is packed with Linfield students and community members on the weekends; there is generally a line outside of people waiting to eat. Wildwood toast is their signature dish; thick French toast rolled in an oat-granola mixture and baked to perfection. My mouth is already watering.
Essentially, there are plenty of places to go out and relax with friends, either to celebrate dominating a test, or just to have a good time. Either way, you’ll have lots of new places to try out when you get here!
Until next time,
-Austin
Austin: All things green
After my endless studying last weekend to prepare for my exams this week, I was elated to realize I didn’t have too much homework to do this weekend. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun… and of course did a little bit of homework.
All last week was Earth Week here on campus, and Friday was filled with a stuff-swap, a sustainable local BBQ (free food!), and the Earth Games. For the Earth Games, 16 contestants eagerly tackled the “green” obstacle course, starting with sliding through a mud slide, flipping bales of hay across a field, tossing reusable bottles into recycling bins, riding a bike through a course, and then finishing up with the quickest shower from a hose. It was a blast to help set up and watch some of my friends compete- the winner got a $50 giftcard! We also had a great local BBQ, all food was from the area, and it was tasty.
Later Friday, I attended a Linfield tradition with some of my friends: the art burn. Every year, during Jan term, an art class builds a big abstract structure and in April everyone gathers around it as there are tribal drums and chanting and the structure is lit on fire. Everyone is in the middle of a field, just watching a giant art structure burn… pretty awesome if you ask me.
In conjunction with Earth week, it was also sexuality week, and Fusion (Linfield’s GSA) put on the first ever Linfield drag show. A couple of drag queens from U of O came and preformed along with some Linfield students. I had never been to anything like it, and it was a blast. The entire auditorium was packed, with tons of people standing in the wings. All throughout Earth week for the drag show, there was a lot of student involvement and interest. It really helped me appreciate how student-oriented Linfield really is, and how awesome the student body is as well.
Saturday I volunteered at La Casa Verde, an annual McMinnville green-building community festival where about 1,000 community members, young and old, come and celebrate people in the community who are working towards building more sustainable structures. Cellar Ridge construction, a local business, hosts the event and there was everything from garden demonstrations, to local produce, and lots of kid’s activities. I loved getting off of campus and interacting with some really neat people from the community, it helped me appreciate how interesting McMinnville really is, and how there are actually lots of things to get involved with in town.
Sunday was filled with lots of homework and study groups, but hey, you get to live a little and learn a lot while in college. It’s all about the balance between the two, I’m learning.
It’s beautiful outside, the sun is shining and the sky is visibly blue; I’ve gotta get outside!
Until next time,
-Austin